Separable slide fastener and method of forming the same

ABSTRACT

A separable slide fastener includes a retainer having a channel therein for receiving interengaging elements of a stringer, the retainer being movable along the interengaging elements to a support member to be immovably mounted on the support member with a head portion of the support member locked in a pocket in the channel of the retainer.

United States Patent 1 [Ill 3,892,017

Watson 1 July 1, 1975 SEPARABLE SLIDE FASTENER AND 2,302,339 11/1942 2334,0234 5 1958 METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME 3,030,684 4,1962 [75] Inventor: David G. Watson, Meadville, Pa. 3,377,668 4/1968 Assignee: Textron Inc., Providence, RI.

Filed: Feb. 22, 1974 Appl. No.: 445,038

[52] US. Cl. 24/2051] F [51] Int. Cl A44b 19/24 [58] Field of Search 24/20511 R, 205.1 1 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,910,404 5/1933 Prentice 24/20511 R 2,146,691 2/1939 Sundback 25/205.ll R

Primary ExaminerDonald A. Griffin [57] ABSTRACT A separable slide fastener includes a retainer having a channel therein for receiving interengaging elements of a stringer, the retainer being movable along the interengaging elements to a support member to be immovably mounted on the support member with a head portion of the support member locked in a pocket in the channel of the retainer.

21 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 SEPARABLE SLIDE FASTENER AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The present invention pertains to slide fasteners and, more particularly, to separable slide fasteners and a method of forming the same.

2. Description of the prior art Separable slide fasteners are conventionally utilized in many articles in order to permit complete separation of the portions of the article carrying respective slide fastener halves. In order to form a separable slide fastener, a bottom stop for the slide fastener is conventionally constructed with a retainer secured to one tape thereof to prevent the slider of the slide fastener from being removed from the interengaging elements and further to receive a pin carried at the end of the other tape of the slide fastener. In order to close the slide fastener, the slider is moved to abut the retainer and the pin is inserted through the channel in the slider and into the retainer such that the slider can then be moved along the interengaging elements to engage the same.

In forming conventional separable slide fasteners, it has been required that a retainer be specially formed and secured to the carrier tapes of the slide fastener thereby requiring precise positioning of the retainer relative to the carrier tape and the additional step of securing the retainer thereto.

US. Pat. No. 3,633,996 and German Pat. No. 2,059,731 are exemplary of prior art attempts to secure a retainer to a separable slide fastener by loosely mounting the retainer thereon to permit limited movement along the bottom of the slide fastener. Such prior art attempts, however, still leave room for improve ment, particularly, in simplifying the method for forming such slide fasteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally summarized in a separable slide fastener having a pair of tapes carrying interengaging elements along inner edges thereof, a slider movable along the interengaging elements to open and close the slide fastener, and a separable end stop including a support member secured to one of the tapes having a head portion, a pin member secured to the other of the tapes, and a retainer immovably mounted on the support member having first and second opposing side walls, a partition disposed between the first and second side walls to define first and second channels in the retainer for receiving the support member and the pin member, respectively, and means in the first channel defining a pocket having a configuration mating with the configuration of the head portion of the support member to lock the head portion in the pocket.

The present invention is further generally summarized in a method of forming a half of a separable slide fastener including the steps of gapping a stringer to remove interengaging elements from a portion thereof, assembling a retainer on the stringer, forming a support member on the stringer, moving the retainer along the stringer to the support member, and locking the retainer on the support member.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art in forming a separable bottom stop for a slide fastener by utilizing a retainer having a construction to permit assembly thereof on a stringer and movement along the stringer to a support member formed on the end thereof where the retainer is immovably mounted on the support member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a half of a separable slide fastener by assembling a retainer on a stringer, forming a support member at the end of the stringer, moving the retainer to the support member, and forcing a head portion of the support member into a pocket formed in the retainer to lock the retainer on the support member.

Another object of the present invention is to construct a retainer for a separable slide fastener having opposing side walls with a partition therein defining first and second channels for receiving a support member and a pin member, respectively, the first channel having a pocket formed therein with a configuration mating with the configuration of a head portion of the support member to lock the support member with the retainer and the second channel having a configuration to receive the pin member to permit closing ofthe slide fastener.

The present invention has an additional object in the forming of a stop member with a wedge-shaped head portion in order to facilitate assembly of the support member with a retainer, the head portion having an end wider than the mouth of a pocket formed in the retainer such that the head portion is deformed during assembly with the retainer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to con struct a retainer to have a pocket therein for locking engagement with a head portion of a support member, the pocket being defined by islands extending from a pair of wings of the retainer and having edges contacting an inner side of the support member at the head portion and permitting slight tilting of the retainer during insertion of a pin member therein to close the slide fastener.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a retainer having a slider-like construction for a separable slide fastener with a partition of the retainer having a recess formed therein to permit passage of the interengaging elements of the slide fastener.

Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art are that the retainer can be initially assembled on a stringer and then moved into locking engagement with a support member secured to the stringer without any additional securing step, the ends of the stringers of the separable slide fastener are received in the retainer so as not to extend therefrom thereby eliminating stress, the channel through the retainer is configured to permit the retainer to move along the interengaging elements of the slide fastener and the support member is constructed of a plastic material to permit deforming thereof as the retainer is locked on the support member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. I and 2 are plan views of a separable slide fastener according to the present invention in closed and open states, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a broken perspective of the retainer of the separable slide fastener of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the retainer of the separable slide fastener of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the retainer of the separable slide fastener of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are broken plan views illustrating a method of forming a separable slide fastener according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A separable slide fastener 10 embodying the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, includes a pair of tapes l2 and 14 carrying filamentary interengaging elements 16 and 18, respectively, along the inner edges thereof. A slider 20 of conventional structure is captured on the interengaging elements 16 and has a Y-shaped channel therethrough such that upward movement of the slider 20 engages the interengaging elements I6 and 18 to close the slide fastener 10 and downward movement of the slider disengages the interengaging elements to open the slide fastener. Top stop members 22 and 24 are carried at the top end of tapes l2 and 14, respectively, and have a shape so as not to pass through the slider 20 thereby limiting upward closing movement of the slider.

A separating end stop is formed at the bottom of the slide fastener and is composed of a support member 26 secured to tape l2, a pin member 28 secured to tape 14 and a retainer 30 immovably mounted on the support member 26. The support member 26 is formed of a shank 32 having a flat inner side 34 and a flat outer side 36 diverging at 38 to form a wedge-shaped head portion 40 having an end 41 wider than the shank 32. A flange 42 extends transversely from inner side 34 and has a groove 44 therein, the sides of the flange 42 having a width less than that of shank 32. The pin member 28 is formed ofa leg 46 offset to define a diverging portion 48. The leg has a flat outer side 50 and a flat inner side 52 from which transversely extends a tongue 54 having a width slightly less than the groove 44 formed in flange 42 of support member 26. The tongue 54 terminates at a thickened guide tooth 56 extending transversely from the tongue.

The support member 26 and the pin member 28 are each integrally formed with tape reinforcing flaps 58 secured to tapes l2 and 14, such as by molding or ultrasonic welding. The ends of the support member and the pin member are spaced from the terminal interengaging elements 16 and 18 carried by tapes l2 and 14, respectively, such that the guide tooth 56 can be received in the space between the end of flange 42 and the terminal interengaging element 16 carried on tape 12 and the head portion of the terminal interengaging element 16 carried by tape 12 can be received in the space between guide tooth 56 and the terminal interengaging element 18 carried by tape 14 when the slide fastener I0 is closed, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the retainer 30 has a slide r-Iike construction and includes wings 60 and 62 supported in spaced, parallel relation by a partition 64. Wing 60 has depending flanges 66 and 68 along the side edges thereof while wing 62 has similar flanges 70 and 72 extending upwardly from the side edges thereof. Flange 66 is aligned with flange 70 while flange 68 is aligned with flange 72 to define opposite side walls for the retainer 30. Flanges 66 and are spaced to define a slot 74 extending from a top end 76 of the retainer to a bottom end 78 while flanges 68 and 72 are spaced to define a slot 80 extending from top end 76 but terminating at a wall 82 joining flanges 68 and 72 adjacent bottom end 78 of the retainer. the partition 64 is disposed between the side walls of the retainer at bottom end 78 to define with flanges 66 and 70 a channel 84 in the retainer and to define with flanges 68 and 72 a channel 86 in the retainer. The upper end 76 of the retainer is open to define with the channels 84 and 86 a Y-shaped channel in the retainer.

The partition 64 has a flat side wall 88 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the retainer, and the side wall 88 has an offset portion 90 disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the retainer forming a wall of channel 86. The channel 84 is defined by a flat side wall 92 of the partition 64 disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the retainer 30 and terminating at side walls 94 and 96 angularly oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the retainer to define a recess generally indicated at 98. The side wall 96 joins the side wall 90 at a rounded edge 100 laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis of the retainer. A pocket, generally indicated at 102, is formed in channel 84 and defined by bosses 104 and I06 extending laterally from side wall 92 of the partition 64 and inwardly from the wings 60 and 62, respectively, along with bosses 108 and 110 extending laterally from flanges 66 and 70 and inwardly from wings 60 and 62, respectively. The pocket 102 is further defined by islands 112 and 114 extending from wings 60 and 62, respectively, adjacent the recess 98 in partition 64 and protruding beyond edge 100 at the end 76 of the retainer.

The pocket 102, as defined by bosses 104, I06, 108 and 110 and islands 112 and 114, has a configuration mating with the configuration of the head portion 40 of support member 26, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, with the flaring side 38 of the head portion engaging bosses I08 and 110 and the inner side 34 engaging the islands I12 and 114 while the corner of the head portion where end 41 joins side 34 is captured by abutment with the ends of bosses 104 and 106.

In order to form a separable slide fastener 10 in accordance with the present invention, a pair of slide fastener stringers are initially produced, such stringers each including a carrier tape with filamentary interengaging elements along the edges thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein the stringers are given reference numbers corresponding to the slide fastener as described above. Portions of the stringers are gapped and cleaned in order to remove interengaging elements therefrom as indicated at 116 on tape 12 and 118 on tape 14 in FIG. 7. The production of slide fastener stringers using filamentary interengaging elements and the gapping and cleaning of portions thereof is conventional and well known in the art; and, accordingly, no detailed description thereof follows.

With the stringers gapped and cleaned, the slider 20 is assembled with the interengaging elements 16 by in troducing the slider at the gapped portion 116, and the retainer 30 is similarly assembled with the interengaging elements 16 by introducing the end 76 of the retainer at the gapped portion 116 and moving the retainer 30 such that the interengaging elements I6 pass through the channel 84 in the retainer, the recess 98 in the partition accommodating the interengaging elements 16 to permit passage through the channel. With the slider 20 and the retainer assembled with the stringer and moved along the interengaging elements away from the gapped portion 116, the tapes l2 and 14 are forwarded to an end stop forming apparatus where the support member 26 and the pin member 28 of the separating bottom stop and the top stop members 22 and 24 are simultaneously formed at the junctures of gapped portions 116 and 118 with interengaging elements l6 and 18, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The members 22, 24, 26 and 28 are preferably constructed of a thermally fusible plastic material and can be formed by molding to the tape or preforming the members and then ultrasonically fusing the members onto the tape. The techniques for the production of such stop members are well known in the art and are not described in detail hereinafter.

With the slide fastener chain in the condition illustrated in FIG. 8, the stringers are cut at the gapped portions to separate individual slide fasteners and thereaf ter the retainer 30 is moved along the interengaging elements 16 to the support member 26. With the retainer in this position, sufficient force is applied to retainer 30 to force the end 41 of the head portion of the support member 26 through the mouth between bosses 104, H16 and bosses 108, 110, the construction of the support member of a plastic material permitting the head portion to deform to pass by the bosses and into the pocket 102. Once the head portion is received in the pocket, it is fixedly captured due to the abutment of end 41 with the ends of bosses 104 and 106 and the mating configuration of the head portion with the pocket. Accordingly, the retainer 30 cannot be moved either onto the interengaging elements 16 or off of the support member 26 and is firmly locked in place.

With the retainer locked in place, the slider 20 can be moved down the interengaging elements 16 to abut the end 76 of the retainer and thereafter the pin member 28 is inserted through the slider 20 and into the channel 86 until the edge of flap 58 abuts wall 82. With the pin member in this position, guide tooth 56 will be positioned between the terminal interengaging elements l6 and the end of flange 42, and the slider can be moved upward to close the slide fastener.

From the above, it will be appreciated that the method of forming half of a separable slide fastener in accordance with the present invention requires only the assembling of the retainer on the interengaging elements of the stringer, forming the support member, moving the retainer to the support member and locking the retainer on the support member by forcing the wedge-shaped head portion of the support member through the narrower mouth of the pocket in the retainer to deform the support member and lock it in the pocket. To this end, it is advantageous that the retainer be formed of a relatively strong material, preferably die cast of metal, while the support member is formed of a deformable material, preferably plastic. The wedgeshaped configuration of the head portion of the support member facilitates forcing of the head portion through the mouth of the pocket and further assures nonmovement of the retainer relative to the support member once the support member and retainer are interlocked. The slight angular orientation of the edges of the islands extending from the wings of the retainer permits the inner wall of the support member at the head portion to engage the edges of the islands while permitting slight tilting of the retainer during insertion of the pin member therein in order to close the slide fastener.

inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all matter described above or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A separable slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes carrying interengaging elements along inner edges thereof;

a slider movable along said interengaging elements to open and close said slide fastener;

separable end stop means including a support member secured to one of said tapes having a head portion, a pin member secured to the other of said tapes, and a retainer immovably mounted on said support member having first and second opposing side walls, a partition disposed between said first and second side walls to define first and second channels in said retainer for receiving said support member and said pin member, respecitvely, and means in said first channel defining a pocket having a configuration mating with the configuration of said head portion of said support member to lock said head portion in said pocket;

said support member having a shank; and

said head portion having a wedge-like configuration extending from said shank and terminating at an end wider than said shank.

2. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said pocket defining means includes boss means extending from said partition to abut said end of said head portion of said support member.

3. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 2 wherein said head portion has a diverging outer side and said pocket defining means includes boss means extending from said first side wall to engage said diverging side of said head portion.

4. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 3 wherein said head portion has inner side, said retainer includes a pair of spaced parallel wings supported by said partition, and said pocket defining means includes island means extending from said pair of wings adjacent said partition to engage said inner side of said head portion.

5. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 4 wherein said retainer has a bottom end; and

each of said wings has side edges and flanges depending from the side edges thereof to define said first and second side walls, said flanges of said wings being spaced to define a slot in said first side wall extending along the entire length thereof and a slot in said second side wall terminating at a wall adjacent the bottom end of said retainer, the wall joining the flanges defining said second side wall.

6. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 5 wherein said partition has side walls formed to define a recess adjacent said island means to permit passage of said interengaging elements through said first channel in said retainer.

7. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 6 wherein said separable end stop means includes tape reinforcing flaps integrally formed with said support member and said pin member whereby the tape reinforcing flap of said pin member abuts said wall when said pin member is fully inserted in said second channel in said retainer.

8. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 7 wherein said support member and said pin member are formed of plastic and said retainer is formed of metal.

9. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 8 wherein said support member has a grooved flange extending transversely therefrom and said pin member has a tongue extending transversely therefrom to be received in said grooved flange and a guide tooth extending from said tongue for engaging an end of said flange when said slide fastener is closed.

10. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said support member is formed of plastic, and said pocket defining means forms a mouth adjacent said partition having a width less than the width of said end of said head portion and causing said head portion to be deformed to pass through said mouth as said retainer is mounted on said support member.

11. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 10 wherein said retainer is formed of metal.

12. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said partition has a recess formed therein adjacent said first channel to permit said interengaging elements to pass therethrough.

13. A separable slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes carrying interengaging elements along inner edges thereof;

a slider movable along said interengaging elements to open and close said slide fastener;

separable end stop means including a support mem ber secured to one of said tapes having a head portion. a pin member secured to the other of said tapes, and a retainer immovably mounted on said support member having first and second opposing side walls, a partition disposed between said first and second side walls to define first and second channels in said retainer for receiving said support member and said pin member, respectively, and means in said first channel defining a pocket having a configuration mating with the configuration of said head portion of said support member to lock said head portion in said pocket;

said partition having a recess formed therein adjacent said first channel to permit said interengaging elements to pass therethrough;

said retainer including a pair of spaced parallel wings supported by said partition, said partition having a flat side wall disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the retainer and joining said recess, and said pocket defining means including an island extending from each of said wings adjacent said recess and joining said flat side wall of said partition.

14. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim l3 wherein each of the islands has an edge extending from said flat side wall of said partition at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said retainer, and said support member has a shank and an inner side extending along said shank and said head portion, said inner side engaging the edges of said islands at said head portion.

15. A method of forming a half of a separable slide fastener comprising the steps of gapping a stringer to remove interengaging elements from a portion thereof;

assembling a retainer on the stringer;

forming a support member on the stringer;

moving the retainer along the stringer to the support member; and

locking the retainer on the support member.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the retainer has a channel therein and said assembling step includes introducing the retainer at the gapped portion of the stringer and moving the retainer along the stringer away from the gapped portion with the interengaging elements passing through the channel.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the retainer has a pocket formed in the channel, the support member has a head portion and said locking step includes forcing the head portion into the pocket of the retainer.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said assembling step includes introducing a slider at the gapped portion and moving the slider along the stringer away from the gapped portion.

19. A method of forming a separable slide fastener comprising the steps of gapping a pair of stringers to remove interengaging elements from portions thereof;

assembling a slider and a retainer on one of the stringers by introducing the slider and retainer at a gapped portion and moving the slider and retainer along the interengaging elements of the one stringer;

forming a support member on the one stringer at the juncture of the interengaging elements and a gapped portion and a pin member on the other stringer at the juncture of the interengaging elements and a gapped portion;

moving the retainer along the one stringer to the support member; and

locking the retainer on the support member.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said forming step includes forming a top stop member on each of said stringers.

21. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the retainer has a channel therein with a pocket formed in the channel, the support member has a wedge-shaped head portion, and said locking step includes forcing the head portion into the pocket of the retainer. 

1. A separable slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes carrying interengaging elements along inner edges thereof; a slider movable along said interengaging elements to open and close said slide fastener; separable end stop means including a support member secured to one of said tapes having a head portion, a pin member secured to the other of said tapes, and a retainer immovably mounted on said support member having first and second opposing side walls, a partition disposed between said first and second side walls to define first and second channels in said retainer for receiving said support member and said pin member, respecitvely, and means in said first channel defining a pocket having a configuration mating with the configuration of said head portion of said support member to lock said head portion in said pocket; said support member having a shank; and said head portion having a wedge-like configuration extending from said shank and terminating at an end wider than said shank.
 2. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said pocket defining means includes boss means extending from said partition to abut said end of said head portion of said support member.
 3. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 2 wherein said head portion has a diverging outer side and said pocket defining means includes boss means extending from said first side wall to engage said diverging side of said head portion.
 4. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 3 wherein said head portion has inner side, said retainer includes a pair of spaced parallel wings supported by said partition, and said pocket defining means includes islAnd means extending from said pair of wings adjacent said partition to engage said inner side of said head portion.
 5. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 4 wherein said retainer has a bottom end; and each of said wings has side edges and flanges depending from the side edges thereof to define said first and second side walls, said flanges of said wings being spaced to define a slot in said first side wall extending along the entire length thereof and a slot in said second side wall terminating at a wall adjacent the bottom end of said retainer, the wall joining the flanges defining said second side wall.
 6. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 5 wherein said partition has side walls formed to define a recess adjacent said island means to permit passage of said interengaging elements through said first channel in said retainer.
 7. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 6 wherein said separable end stop means includes tape reinforcing flaps integrally formed with said support member and said pin member whereby the tape reinforcing flap of said pin member abuts said wall when said pin member is fully inserted in said second channel in said retainer.
 8. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 7 wherein said support member and said pin member are formed of plastic and said retainer is formed of metal.
 9. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 8 wherein said support member has a grooved flange extending transversely therefrom and said pin member has a tongue extending transversely therefrom to be received in said grooved flange and a guide tooth extending from said tongue for engaging an end of said flange when said slide fastener is closed.
 10. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said support member is formed of plastic, and said pocket defining means forms a mouth adjacent said partition having a width less than the width of said end of said head portion and causing said head portion to be deformed to pass through said mouth as said retainer is mounted on said support member.
 11. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 10 wherein said retainer is formed of metal.
 12. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said partition has a recess formed therein adjacent said first channel to permit said interengaging elements to pass therethrough.
 13. A separable slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes carrying interengaging elements along inner edges thereof; a slider movable along said interengaging elements to open and close said slide fastener; separable end stop means including a support member secured to one of said tapes having a head portion, a pin member secured to the other of said tapes, and a retainer immovably mounted on said support member having first and second opposing side walls, a partition disposed between said first and second side walls to define first and second channels in said retainer for receiving said support member and said pin member, respectively, and means in said first channel defining a pocket having a configuration mating with the configuration of said head portion of said support member to lock said head portion in said pocket; said partition having a recess formed therein adjacent said first channel to permit said interengaging elements to pass therethrough; said retainer including a pair of spaced parallel wings supported by said partition, said partition having a flat side wall disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the retainer and joining said recess, and said pocket defining means including an island extending from each of said wings adjacent said recess and joining said flat side wall of said partition.
 14. A separable slide fastener as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the islands has an edge extending from said flat side wall of said partition at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said retainer, and said support member has a shank and an inner side extending along said shank and saiD head portion, said inner side engaging the edges of said islands at said head portion.
 15. A method of forming a half of a separable slide fastener comprising the steps of gapping a stringer to remove interengaging elements from a portion thereof; assembling a retainer on the stringer; forming a support member on the stringer; moving the retainer along the stringer to the support member; and locking the retainer on the support member.
 16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the retainer has a channel therein and said assembling step includes introducing the retainer at the gapped portion of the stringer and moving the retainer along the stringer away from the gapped portion with the interengaging elements passing through the channel.
 17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the retainer has a pocket formed in the channel, the support member has a head portion and said locking step includes forcing the head portion into the pocket of the retainer.
 18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said assembling step includes introducing a slider at the gapped portion and moving the slider along the stringer away from the gapped portion.
 19. A method of forming a separable slide fastener comprising the steps of gapping a pair of stringers to remove interengaging elements from portions thereof; assembling a slider and a retainer on one of the stringers by introducing the slider and retainer at a gapped portion and moving the slider and retainer along the interengaging elements of the one stringer; forming a support member on the one stringer at the juncture of the interengaging elements and a gapped portion and a pin member on the other stringer at the juncture of the interengaging elements and a gapped portion; moving the retainer along the one stringer to the support member; and locking the retainer on the support member.
 20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said forming step includes forming a top stop member on each of said stringers.
 21. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the retainer has a channel therein with a pocket formed in the channel, the support member has a wedge-shaped head portion, and said locking step includes forcing the head portion into the pocket of the retainer. 